This post covers things to do during October in Nashville, Tennessee, including family-friendly and free activities as well as evening entertainment and live music.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN OCTOBER
This top 10 list has concerts, events, attractions, and festivals to check out in Music City during October.
For even more ideas, be sure to check out our master post on things to do in Nashville any time of year.
Don’t forget to check out our popular Nashville posts:
- Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
- Tourist Attraction Discount Passes
- Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Discounts
- Country Music Hall of Fame Discounts
- Madame Tussauds Nashville
1. Attend a Major Concert
You’ll never be without a concert to go to in Music City.
From the local acts that play in various venues every night of the week to these big-name artists, there are plenty of events to choose from.
- Lil Nas X | October 1st
- Elton John | October 2nd
- Earth Wind Fire | October 5th
- Father John Misty | October 6th
- Keith Urban | Ocotber 7th
- Panic! At the Disco | October 8th
- Pitbull/Sean Paul | October 9th
- Smashing Pumpkins/Jane's Addiction/Poppy | October 10th
- The Doobie Brothers | October 12th
- Diana Krall | October 13th
- Jason Aldean | October 14th
- Post Malone | October 16th
- Regina Spektor | October 20th
- Reba McEntire | Ocotober 21st
- Lizzo | October 23rd
- Mary J. Blige | October 26th
- Violent Femmes | October 27th
Click here to see all Nashville music events.
Any of these concerts would be a great way to spend an evening in Nashville. If you’re looking for other things to do at night in Music City, check out our full post.
2. See a Sporting Event
Nashville is big into both music and sports. October is a great time to find a game to go to since multiple professional teams will be playing.
Hockey season has just started back up, and football and soccer seasons are in full swing.
Hockey
Football
Soccer
Basketball
Take a look at all the games in October.
3. Theatre and Stand-Up Comedy
If you’re a fan of theatre and musicals, there are usually a few of them to see in Nashville in October.
Pretty Woman the Musical will be appearing on October 1st and 2nd at Andrew Jackson Hall.
At the James K. Polk Theatre is Cinderalla, the ballet. It runs from October 6th through 9th.
There will be a few notable comedians coming to Nashville this month:
- Anjelah Johnson-Reyes | October 1st
- Jim Jefferies | October 8th
- Wanda Sykes | Ocotober 23rd
See all the theatre and performance arts in Nashville here.
4. Take a Sightseeing Tour
October means pleasant, crisp weather - perfect for exploring the town.
Downtown Nashville is easily walkable, and we suggest starting your trip with a walking tour, whether you take a pay-what-you-like tour or lead yourself on our self-guided walking tour.
Another popular option is to take a bus tour of Nashville. A hop-on hop-off tour is a convenient form of transportation as well as a great source of insider information on Music City.
You can also find fun specialty tours such as a comedy bus tour or party bus.
Don’t forget to celebrate Halloween with the kid-friendly Ghost Tour at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage after hours.
5. See Nashville’s Top Attractions
Taking a trip to Nashville in October is the perfect opportunity to see the city’s top attractions with less crowding than during the busy season of summer.
History buffs will enjoy Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage. Music lovers can tour the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame.
We've listed some great opportunities to find live music on our post covering things to do at night, as well.
Families with kids, or those who enjoy Music City’s celebrities can visit Madame Tussauds Nashville . We have plenty of suggestions for other things to do with your kids here, too.
If you're on a budget, check out our free activities in Nashville post.
6. Attend A Film Festival
2022 brings the 53rd annual Nashville Film Festival to Nashville on September 29th.
In addition to a celebration of all things film, there will be more than 125 screenings, panel discussions, Q&A's music and more.
Events take place at the Belcourt Theater and the Andrew Johnson Theater at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
For tickets and additional information, visit the website.
7. Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival
Approximately 1 in 6 Nashville residents are foreign-born, which means there is a lot of different cultures within the city to be celebrated.
The free Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival is held on October 1st 2022, from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm in Centennial Park.
You’ll be able to enjoy music and dance performances on multiple stages throughout the day.
The Children's Area encourages kids from different backgrounds to play together with educational games, performances, and fun activities.
Younger visitors won’t have a chance to get bored from the Teen’s Area with dance performances and displays of information about how teenagers of other cultures incorporate that into their lives in Nashville.
While the festival itself is free, you might want to bring money with you if you plan on enjoying the World Market vendors or the beer and food vendors that will be set up all day.
If you’re looking for more budget-friendly activities, check out our free things to do post. Visitors with kids can also find things to do in our family-friendly activities post.
9. Have a Scary Halloween
Nashville has several annual haunted houses, parties, and celebrations during most of October.
If you’re not in Music City during Halloween festivities you can still take a haunted pub crawl to visit local bars and hear spooky stories.
If you get a thrill at intense haunted houses, go to the popular Nashville Nightmare or Nashville Haunted Hayride. They’re generally open from the very end of September through Halloween. They do recommend that all visitors are 13 or older due to the intensity of the experience.
Looking for more nighttime activities in Nashville? Check our full evening entertainment post.
9. Go to the Pumpkin Patch
If there's one family activity you can always count on, it's going to the pumpkin patch to find the best pumpkin for carving.
In addition to the pumpkins, these farms usually also have several other activities to enjoy such as trains, corn mazes, petting farms and more.
Here are a few of the best pumpkin patches near Nashville:
- Honeysuckle Hill Farm
- Lucky Ladd Farms
- Shuckle's Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
- Walden Pumpkin Farm
- Bottom View Farm
- And more!
Check this master list of pumpkin patches for even more options in central Tennessee.
10. Nashville Oktoberfest
If you enjoy beer, music, and Bavarian culture, don’t miss Nashville’s Oktoberfest. It covers 10 blocks and has been running for over 40 years.
You’ll find delicious food vendors with German food, high-quality local breweries, art vendors, and more than one stage offering live German music.
As if that weren’t enough, there will be a parade through downtown Nashville with people dressed in their finest dirndl and lederhosen after the hilariously adorable Dachshund Derby.
This event will be taking place between October 6th - 9th in 2022.
Click here for tickets and more info.
Save Money with a Tourist Attraction Discount Pass
If you’re looking to see multiple major attractions, such as the Country Music Hall of Fame, Studio B, or take any tours, we suggest using a tourist city pass to save money.
Some passes can offer up to 55% retail-price discounts for restaurants, souvenir shops, and attraction tickets.
Featured on Various Passes:
See our full tourist attraction discount pass comparison here.
BOOze at the Zoo
The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is the perfect place for Halloween festivities!
BOOze at Zoo is a Halloween event full of food, drinks, and activities for those aged 21+.
There will be a Trick-or-Treat trail, courosel and zip-line rides, adult beverages, food trucks, and a costume contest.
The event takes place on October 13, 2022. Tickets cost $79 and can be purchased after August 31st.
For additional information about the visiting the zoo, read our post on Nashville Zoo Discounts and Coupons.
RELATED POSTS :
- Things to do in Nashville any time of year
- Family-Friendly Activities
- Things to Do at Night
- Free Things to Do in Nashville
- Nashville Walking Tours
- Luggage Storage in Nashville
